2 Sumatran Tiger Cubs Born At National Zoo

Officials from the National Zoo say they are celebrating the birth of a pair of Sumatran tiger cubs, a critically endangered species. (Image courtesy of National Zoo webcam)

Zoo officials say the new mother has been seen grooming and nursing them. (Image courtesy of National Zoo webcam)

There are two new animals at the National Zoo!

Officials from the National Zoo say they are celebrating the birth of a pair of Sumatran tiger cubs, which are critically endangered species.

The zoo announced Thursday that the cubs born to 4-year-old Damai appear to be healthy. The new mother has been seen grooming and nursing them.

This is Damai's first litter with the cub's 12-year-old father, Kavi. Damai arrived at the zoo in 2011 from the San Diego Zoo and Kavi came a year ago from Zoo Atlanta.

The zoo confirmed Damai's pregnancy in June through an ultrasound after she gained weight and exhibited behaviors indicating she could be pregnant.

Damai is being remotely monitored to allow her to bond with her cubs. The cubs won't be exhibited for several months, but fans can watch them on webcams. Damai can move her cubs outdoors or in the indoor tiger enclosure that do not have webcams.

With fewer than 500 Sumatran tigers in the wild, zoo officials say the birth of these cubs makes a stride in the direction towards saving this critically endangered species.